Heavenly Greetings:

“They wrote this letter by them:

The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,

To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment—it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

Farewell. Acts 15:23-29 NKJV

This thoughtful and timely letter was huge and monumental in the history of Christianity. Apostle Paul and Barnabas made the special trip to Jerusalem to settle down the controversial and yet critical matter on the Judaic rituals especially whether the Gentile believers should be circumcised or not in order to be saved. I really wish that I could have been in that historic council meeting among the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.

Just imagine that the Twelve Apostles, James (brother of Jesus), Apostle Paul and Barnabas, and the elders gathered together to discuss the significant issues in the first century. How fascinating and remarkable it was! Most of all, there was the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ in their midst as the head of the church (Matthew 18:20). Jesus Christ the Lord was the leading the meeting.

Apostle Peter rose up and spoke in the Spirit that there was no distinction between the Jews and Gentiles in Jesus Christ and then all the multitude kept silent (Acts 15:6-12). They also listened to Barnabas and Paul how many miracles and wonders God manifested through them among the Gentiles (Acts 15:13). Finally, the chairman of the Jerusalem Council James, brother of Jesus, stood up and concluded that they should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who were turning to God, but that they wrote to them to abstain from things polluted from idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled, and from blood (Acts 15:6-21). Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church and sent the letter to the church in Antioch (Acts 15:22).

What a unity in the church! No one was left alone in disagreement or bitterness even though it dealt with so heavy and weighty topic of the days. Each rose up and spoke as the Spirit quietly led in spirit and all the multitude kept silent, totally agreeing to the inner voice of the Spirit. What a beautiful picture in the church gathering which all the churches in our day ought to be as well. They were on in mind, heart, spirit, and body.

What would be the response of the church in Antioch? Obviously, nothing but rejoicing, is it not? “So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.” (Acts 15:30-31 NKJV)

In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ is still in our midst, working for making harmony and unity and peace if we trust in Him. Amen. Apostle Paul admonishes all the churches, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:1-6 NKJV)